Growing Cucumber

cucumis sativis : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Cucumber in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed

October: After risk of frost

  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 16 - 24 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-10 weeks. Cut fruit off with scissors or sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Nasturtiums, Beans, Celery, Lettuce, Sweet Corn, Cabbages, Sunflowers, Coriander, Fennel, Dill, Sunflowers
  • Avoid growing close to: Potato, Tomatoes

Your comments and tips

28 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
On all cucurbits which include cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins and zucchinis the female flower has a small fruit behind the flower. the male flowers, which contain pollen, do not and are generally on longer thinner stems. If the female flower is pollinated (fertilised) by pollen from the male flower the fruit will continue to develop to maturity
08 Jan 17, Lynda Allan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My cucumbers start to develop then yellow and die off?
07 Jan 17, Lynda Allan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
My cucumbers have flowers and start to develop fruit and then when very small go yellow and die.
12 Jan 17, Anna (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Your cucumbers havent been properly pollinated. I suggest you get a small paintbrush and pollinate them by taking some pollen from the male flower and applying it to the female flower.I use this method with pumpkins and watermelon too
09 Jan 17, Joanne2167 (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have had the same problem and looked it up and decided it was they were not pollinating. Try hand pollination. There are plenty of web sites to help.
09 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Usual reason is they haven't pollinated. Give them a bit more time and some more male flowers and you should get your rewards.
07 Jan 17, Jeff (Australia - temperate climate)
I have picked crystal apple cue's in past seasons and they have been bitter i have a few that look like they are close, any tips on the best time to pick? nothing nicer than an apple cucumber sandwich :-)
09 Jan 17, John (Australia - arid climate)
I have always eaten Crystal Apple when they are quite white. When they go creamy, then yellow they have always have been bitter for me. I don't grow them now for that reason.
06 Jan 17, Posholi (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hi,I am in Maseru Lesotho. Where in the Freestate province can i purchase cucumber seedlings??
03 Jan 17, Ken (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Planted at least 10 weeks ago,no sign of fruit.
Showing 211 - 220 of 497 comments

If you have TRUE high humidity: humidex above 95% consistently -- then you have a real issue. If you have a "created" high humidity situation: like a poorly ventilated greenhouse; then correcting the ventilation will fix things. You can create an updraft by placing a screened window/door very close to ground level (or the lowest level that opens to fresh air) and then furthest and highest away from this point another screened window (on the ceiling/roof, or very high on the wall). So if you have a door on the North/East Bottom. the window goes on the South/West Top. When both of the windows are open, you should get a nice updraft that will whisk away all your humidity. It is best to situate the ground level door/window in a shady spot -- because this will be cooler air, and as this comes in it will force the hot/humid air up and out. There are also green house fans that can be installed (but if you do your updraft correctly you will probably not need one) ; and if you are fully indoors even a dehumidifier might work. If you are in a garden setting like the situation above; I think perhaps the cucumber created a roof that was helping hold in the moisture. In this case prune the cucumber to increase airflow. Things like fences can hold moisture; for example if you have a garden between two houses and there is a wood picket fence; this could impede the flow of air, and cause humidity to build up. The answer will ALMOST always be to increase air flow. If this is a true climate issue then you should select what you are growing with care, choosing plants that can tolerate high humidity; and still trying to situate your plants/garden in such a way that air flows freely. I have an allotment, that has "dense" fencing on two sides (I am in the back corner) and I can feel that I have an extra humid situation. I have found that runner beans do well; once they climb higher than fence level, they get a lot of air flow and do nicely. As far a hydroponics; I am not well versed enough to even begin guessing at the issues that may exist in these environments. Just remember that even when the humidex is NOT high, plants still need the airflow to move what they have transpired away from their leaves.

- Celeste Archer

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